#98 – Controversial Topics in Exercise Science with CJ Gotcher

13 Aug #98 – Controversial Topics in Exercise Science with CJ Gotcher

Scientific literature and the pursuit of science has given mankind a vast amount of knowledge, but it has its shortcomings. As anyone who has attempted to teach, coach, or otherwise educate… humans are messy test subjects. They don’t always do what they are supposed to, or they execute inconsistently, and they sometimes report incorrect data. Consequently, the study of humans and exercise science is controversial and fraught with potential problems. Intelligent trainees and coaches need to interpret these studies with a BIG grain of salt.

CJ Gotcher, a Starting Strength Coach and a member of the science committee for the Starting Strength Coaches Association — which is tasked with combing through the exercise science literature published each year — joins the podcast to help us understand the state of the exercise literature, and how coaches can stay on top of the field.

Scott mentioned the twitter handle @realpeerreview, an account highlighting peer reviewed literature with blatant logical fallacies. It’s a good follow for developing your critical reading eye, and unintentionally entertaining too. He also mentioned Rip’s article on phenomenology in barbell training, which is a great read as well.

CJ has written a number of articles for SS.com and Breaking Muscle. He recently penned a great article about the problem of literature as it applies to coaching practice for the Friday Fahves newsletter, entitled The “Literature” and Coaching Practice. You can find CJ online as a coach at SSOC, or on Instagram @fareforewardtraining.

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